Ethan stared at his phone long after the screen went dark.
Please don't message me like that again.
The words replayed in his mind, sharp and final.
He deserved that.
Years ago, he had chosen silence. Distance. Disappearance.
He had convinced himself it was the right thing to do.
Now he knew better.
Emily hadn't asked him to protect her.
She had asked him to stay.
Ethan leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his hair.
Avoiding her was easy.
Losing her again would destroy him.
The office was empty, the city lights reflecting against the glass walls. For the first time in years, the success surrounding him felt meaningless.
He stood and walked to the window.
"I won't make the same mistake," he said quietly to himself.
The next morning, Ethan arrived early.
When Emily stepped out of the elevator, he was already waiting.
She froze when she saw him.
"Good morning," she said cautiously.
"Emily," he replied, dropping the formal tone. "Can we talk?"
Her shoulders stiffened. "About work?"
"No," he said honestly. "About us."
She hesitated.
"Five minutes," she said. "That's all."
They sat across from each other, the space between them heavy with everything unsaid.
"I know I hurt you," Ethan began. "And I know I don't get to ask for anything."
Emily looked at him, guarded.
"But I won't pretend anymore," he continued. "I won't hide. And I won't run."
She swallowed.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me," he said softly. "I'm asking for the chance to prove I'm not the man who left."
Silence stretched.
Emily stood.
"I don't know if I can trust you," she said. "But… you can try."
His breath caught.
She walked away before he could say anything else.
Ethan stayed seated, his heart pounding.
It wasn't forgiveness.
But it was hope.
And this time, he was ready to fight for it.